2008-09-30 17:40:00 -
msn.foxsports.com/ - Fox Sports Network Justin Simon, 310-369-5864 or WPT Enterprises Lyndsay LaGree, 323-323-9876 llagree@worldpokertour.com FSN, the leader in televised poker, and World Poker Tour, the pre-eminent poker sports brand, have joined forces to launch another first for poker programming - ClubWPT.com - a new series debuting in its regular timeslot Sunday, October 5
at 4:00 PM local with an 11:00 PM local encore.
Based on WPT's online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker and blackjack offering, www.ClubWPT.com, the ClubWPT.com TV show features six amateur players from around the US and Canada competing each week for their shot at cash prizes and poker stardom. But, rather than putting up large buy-ins and playing in gruelling multi-day tournaments against seasoned pros, players earn their seat on the show by playing in specially-designated "TV tournaments" on www.ClubWPT.com. TV-seat tournaments run six nights per week at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST, giving members virtually unlimited opportunities to win their way onto the ClubWPT.com TV show.
"Poker is the only sport that allows the everyday Joe to go up against the professionals and win life-changing money and celebrity status," said Steve Lipscomb, WPT Founder, President and CEO. "And we all want to be in that seat, but most of us don't have the opportunity to invest the time or money to be a pro and play in big casinos games. ClubWPT.com gives you the opportunity--six nights a week, in your own home--to win a seat on national television and the chance to live the dream."
As part of the ClubWPT.com TV experience, qualifiers receive roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles on Southwest Airlines, the official airline of World Poker Tour, a two-night stay at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel West Lake Village, spending cash and a full slate of VIP amenities. The TV series is filmed in high definition in the state-of-the-art ClubWPT.com lounge. Well-known FSN sportscaster Barry Tompkins and "Live at the Bike" announcer Bart Hansen will provide commentary and strategy alongside accomplished TV hostess, Alison Waite.
"The World Poker Tour, the most respected brand name in poker, has long been the leader in poker innovation and they continue that trend with this series," said George Greenberg, FSN Executive Vice President Programming and Production. "ClubWPT.com is the premier place offering amateur poker players the opportunity to experience the status and cachet usually reserved for the biggest names in poker."
In addition to the chance to play on national television, www.ClubWPT.com members can play 24 hours per day in over 5,000 tournaments each month that award more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, including $20,000 prize pools, $10,000 WPT main event seats, WPT Boot Camp(TM) seats, WPT Cruises and more. www.ClubWPT.com members also receive VIP benefits including poker content, tips from the pros and exclusive Las Vegas discounts.
No purchase is necessary for the ClubWPT.com sweepstakes and the service is void in states where prohibited. To get details on how to join, for information on alternative means of entry or to get a two-week free trial, visit www.ClubWPT.com.
FSN is also the home for all-new World Poker Tour Season VII episodes, which will premiere later this year, airing in the FSN Sunday Night Sports Block.
FSN is the nation's leading provider of local sports. FSN's 16 owned-and-operated regional networks and its affiliated networks reach more than 80 million homes across the U.S. FSN serves as the TV home to nearly two-thirds of all MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States. FSN also produces close to 5,000 live local events each year, including more than 1,600 in high definition. In addition to its thousands of home team games and a wide variety of locally produced sports programs, FSN televises national sports events and programs, including Pac-10 and ACC basketball and Pac-10 and Big 12 football.
ABOUT WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour(R), a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that has been licensed for broadcast globally. WPT Season VI airs Monday nights at 9pm ET/PT on GSN in the United States, and WPT Season VII will air on FSN in 2009. WPTE also offers real-money online gaming on its website, www.worldpokertour.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and certain other restricted territories. WPTE also has operations in mainland China, pursuant to an agreement with the China Leisure Sports Administrative Center where WPTE is developing and marketing the WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour. In January 2008, the company launched ClubWPT.com, an innovative subscription-based online poker club targeted to the estimated 60 million poker players in the United States and is currently offered in 38 States. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPTE is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO).
WPTEG
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by WPT Enterprises, Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the expansion of WPTE's brand licensing, the development of new television and film projects, the development of WPTE corporate sponsors and other business development activities, as well as statements regarding other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of WPTE. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that WPTE may not obtain sufficient sponsorship revenues for Season VII programming of the WPT; difficulty of predicting the growth of our online gaming business, which is a relatively new industry with an increasing number of market entrants; reliance on the efforts of CryptoLogic to develop and maintain the online gaming website in compliance with WPTE's business model and applicable gaming laws; the potential that our television programming will fail to maintain a sufficient audience; the risk that competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence might develop television programming that would directly compete with WPTE's television programming; the risk that WPTE may not be able to protect its entertainment concepts, current and future brands and other intellectual property rights; risks associated with future expansion into new or complementary businesses; the termination or impairment of WPTE's relationships with key licensing and strategic partners; and WPTE's dependence on its senior management team. For more information, review WPTE's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Series Leverages WPT's Online Assets with FSN National
Distribution to Give Amateur Players Their Chance at Poker Stardom
